After learning that kids in Rosedale were at a high risk for childhood obesity, the Rosedale Development Association (RDA) decided it was time to do something about it. They learned that the community wanted more trails so they hired an expert who developed plans for a hike & bike nature trail to connect the community to parks and other key spots. With support from various groups and the local government, the RDA built over 2.3 miles of nature trail, all at a minimal expense. Families and children in the community are already benefitting from the trail and the group continues expanding the Rozarks trail network.
The Issue of Physical Activity in the Neighborhood
Awareness: The Rosedale Development Association (RDA), a Kansas City, Kan., non-profit community development ...
We love to share delicious home-cooked meals with our family and friends. But sometimes it’s hard to plan a meal that’s both satisfying and healthy. Do people have to sacrifice bold traditional flavors to ensure their family has a well-balanced meal? Certainly not! Join us and our co-hosts as we tweet about healthy cooking and foods at the next #SaludTues Tweetchat, showing that with a little planning, openness, and creativity, people can prepare tasty and healthy dishes the whole family will love. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “Healthier Recipes”
DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014
TIME: Noon CST (1:00 PM ET)
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
Co-HOSTS: @SaludAmerica, @ClaudiaZapata! Be sure to use the hashtag #SaludTues to follow the conversation on ...
Hollin Meadows Elementary School, part of the Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia, has dedicated leaders and parents who value student health. A few years ago, they started a vegetable garden. Since then, thanks to the leadership of parent Shawn Akard, the school has: developed more gardens; brought in an “outdoor education coordinator” to oversee the gardens and programming; and helped students learn to grow and value new healthy produce.
The Issue of Nutritious School Food
Awareness: Shawn Akard, a PTA member and mother of a student at Hollin Meadows Elementary School in Alexandria, Va., appreciated the healthy changes going on in her district, Fairfax County Public Schools (23% Latino). She wanted to get involved. Learn: Around 2006, she talked with other ...
A new KaBOOM! playground has just arrived to Marshall Meadows, an affordable housing community in San Antonio, Texas. With the help of 200 volunteers from Foresters, The Housing Community Services, Inc. and a team from KaBOOM!, kids living in and near Marshall Meadows now have a new place to play. Plans for the project started with a design day in June 2014, according to a news release. As part of the playground design process, children were asked to draw their dream playground. Designers used their drawings as inspiration for the new playscape. The playground is expected to serve more 25,000 children. "A community's well-being starts with a child's well-being," said Tony Garcia, president and CEO, of Foresters. "Playgrounds are important to communities, providing an open ...
Editor's Note: #SaludTues is a weekly Tweetchat hosted at 1 p.m. every Tuesday on Twitter by @SaludAmerica. Health is vital. But some families face barriers to good health—lack of access to care, parks, healthy food, as well as more junk food marketing and sugary drinks—which contribute to high obesity rates. Today let’s tweet about the issues that impact our health and well-being during and what we can to create health for families at the inaugural #SaludTues Tweetchat. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: “How to Create Health for Families”
DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014
TIME: Noon CST (1:00 PM ET)
WHERE: On Twitter with hashtag #SaludTues
Co-HOSTS: @SaludToday, @AHA_Vida, and @RWJF_Live! We'll open the floor to your stories and experiences as we ...
Please join #SaludTues, a new weekly Tweetchat series about health (salud)! The series, which takes place every Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET (12 P.M. CST), will feature any health issue can be a topic for the #SaludTues chat, from heart health, childhood obesity, nutrition and physical activity, access to health care, education, etc. Chats are hosted by @SaludAmerica, the health social media campaign, and two co-host experts or organizations. When is #SaludTues Tweetchat No. 1? On Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, let's tweet about what we can to create a health for families at the inaugural #SaludTues chat and discuss our health and well-being. WHAT: #SaludTues Tweetchat: "How to Create a Health for Families"
DATE: Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014
TIME: Noon CST (1:00 PM ET)
WHERE: On ...
What good is physical activity if you fuel up with junk food and sugary drinks? One leader in Arlington County, Va., realized that the absence of healthy drink and snack options at parks and public buildings was sending an unclear message to the community about the importance of proper nutrition for an active lifestyle. With overwhelming community support, he drove good-for-you options into vending machines in county-owned property and local schools. This created places that weave both nutrition and physical activity into the fabric of neighborhood health.
The Lack of Healthy Food in the Neighborhood
Families in Arlington County, Va., come from many backgrounds. Walter Tejada, an Arlington County Board Member and two-time County Board chair, moved to the U.S. from El Salvador ...
Which federal policies are most effective for reducing childhood obesity? According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, two of the top policies are: 1. a penny-per-ounce ($0.01/ounce) tax on sugar sweetened beverages (soda tax); and 2. 60 minutes of daily after school physical activity for children. Through a microsimulation analysis, researchers were able to project the long-term impact of three national policies, including the two named above, in addition to a policy that would ban fast food commercials on TV. While all three policies have the potential to reduce childhood obesity, the penny-per-ounce policy was deemed to have the highest impact. Not only would a soda tax reduce obesity by an estimated 2.4 percentage points ...
What happens when youth are given the opportunity to lead their classmates toward a healthier school environment? The results might just amaze you! Teens involved in the 20-20 Leadership program at JC Harmon High School, a 58% Latino school in Kansas City, Kan., learned about the county’s high obesity rates—and they decided to do something about it. They developed plans for a healthy hub at Harmon High and later came up with the win-for-all solution of developing an outdoor fitness trail on school grounds. Now the school has a half-mile fitness trail and students plan to continue enhancing fitness opportunities by installing outdoor exercise equipment along the trail.
The Lack of Physical Activity in the Neighborhood
Awareness: D’Angelo Hicks was a junior at Harmon High ...
